“Turkeys are fully capable of feeling pain, fear, stress and of suffering, and the way they are treated in the video is clearly abusive.”Dr. Sara Shields

“While watching this video, I was very alarmed to witness severe neglect and cruelty inflicted on turkeys at this hatchery facility. … What these turkeys are forced to endure is nothing short of torture.”Dr. Armaiti May

“The machinery causes multiple injuries, and the procedures performed on these animals, without anesthesia, are extremely painful.”Dr. Lee Schrader

“The birds are not living a life remotely worth living. Their world is full of fear, distress, pain, injury and illness as witnessed by this video.”Dr. Debra Teachout

“There is absolutely no reason to handle the animals as roughly and unthinkingly as these workers do. Dragging the turkeys by the neck or wing; kicking them in order to move them is gratuitous, and indeed counterproductive, since it will inevitably create stress, pain, injury.”Dr. Bernard Rollin

“Video footage of the turkeys on this farm exhibits inappropriate handling causing unnecessary stress and injury such as broken wings and legs. Untreated wounds and illnesses are evidence of inadequate husbandry and sanitation. These turkeys experience needless pain and suffering.”Dr. Lorelei Wakefield

“I am appalled at the disrespect these workers have toward the lives of other living creatures. … It is obvious that these acts are unnecessary, but more importantly, they are acts of cruelty and blatant disregard for the welfare of these birds.”Dr. Greg Burkett

“The turkeys in this video exhibit pain and suffering from the adverse actions taken by the company employees. They have no respect for those sentient beings.”Dr. Lester Friedlander

Hidden Lives of Turkeys

NATURE

Wild turkeys are sleek and agile birds who can fly at speeds up to 55 miles per hour, and can run up to 25 miles per hour. At night, they prefer to roost in trees to avoid predators. Their natural lifespan is up to 10 years.

FACTORY FARMS

At Butterball, turkeys are bred to grow so large they can’t fly. Many suffer from crippling leg deformities, heart attacks, and other obesity-related ailments. Most farmed turkeys are slaughtered at just five months of age.

NATURE

In nature, turkeys spend their time foraging for food, preening themselves, building nests, and caring for their young. These courageous birds are very protective of their young and mother turkeys will risk their own lives to fend off predators.

FACTORY FARMS

On Butterball factory farms, turkeys are locked in giant windowless sheds. They never get to see the sun or feel the grass beneath their feet. They also never get to experience the nurturing comfort of their mothers.

NATURE

Turkeys have more than 20 distinct sounds to communicate with each other, including the distinctive gobble, produced only by males, which can be heard more than a mile away.

FACTORY FARMS

The cries of turkeys on Butterball factory farms go unheard and unanswered. These unfortunate birds are condemned to short lives filled with misery and deprivation, and violent deaths at the slaughterhouse.